Page 63 of A Twisted Arrangement

I swipe my thumb over the keypad. It’s only keyed in for a select few guards, my brothers and Oliver. Anyone else has to get permission directly from one of us. I flick on the light as I enter, ready to dodge whatever she throws at me, but all I’m met with is silence. Too quiet. I search the open space, not seeing any signs of my wife, and head toward our shared bedroom. My breath comes out quicker with each step.

She’s going to be tucked in our bed.

She’s going to be tucked in our bed.

She’s going to be tucked in our bed.

But that doesn’t stop the way my gut twists. If anyone’s capable of getting out of here, it’s her. I push the door open quietly, not wanting to wake her, and my heart slams into my chest. The force of it feels like it’ll break bones. The bed’s perfectly made, not a pillow out of place. No one’s gotten into it since I made it this morning. My pulse rushes faster with each second as I search the room, as if she’ll magically appear.

“Fuck.” My muscles strain, and I rake my hand through my hair, fighting my grip until it stings my scalp. I push the feeling down, forcing myself to breathe. There’s ten men outside, and I’ve got a tracker on her. There’s no way she’s escaping me. I scan the room again, and this time, my eyes lock on the closed bathroom door. It’s locked, the handle stiff, and I pull the keys from my pocket. There’s nowhere she can hide from me. Slowly, I slide the door open inch by inch, mindful not to hit her with it in case she’s close.

My chest caves with my exhale, spotting her tucked into the tub, covered in one of the spare blankets. Her eyes are closed, lashes flickering in her sleep. I drop my head to hers, breathing her in. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

With an arm under her legs and another supporting her back, I lift her out of the tub and pull her against my chest. She stirs, and I freeze, not wanting anything to wreck this moment,knowing the second she’s awake, she won’t let me go near her. Warmth hums in my veins when she turns her face into me. She may not realize it yet, but subconsciously, she already knows she’s mine.

I lower her to the bed, tucking her under the blanket, and take a second to just look at her. I’ve been waiting for her for so long that my heart aches at the sight. I run my thumb over her cheek, pushing back a stray strand of hair. Fuck, if I keep this up, I’m going to cry.

Stripping, I walk around the other side of the bed and climb in after her, wrapping her in my arms from behind. Her scent fills my nose as I press it into the nape of her neck, each breath a drug I can’t get enough of. I place a kiss in her hair and tighten my grip.

“I’m never letting you go.”

Chapter 31

Scarlet

Hot,steady breaths fan the back of my neck, stirring me from my sleep. I dreamed of my father’s eyes as he explained I was betrothed and the way my future husband leered at me. It was deep brown eyes with golden, glowing centers that cut through the nightmare and morphed into Matthias and me standing behind a hedge, hiding from the rest of our world. I’d hidden my feelings then, too afraid to be just another one of his conquests, but in my dream, he’d pressed me against the wall and taken my mouth until I gave in to him.

A soft kiss is pressed below my ear, and I startle. Arms hold me in place, stopping me from jumping off the bed.

“Good morning, Little Sparrow.” He shifts me and flips me underneath him, those same brown eyes staring down at me. The dream’s messing with my head because my heart kicks up like I want him to kiss me.

Shock registers when my mind clears. “The door was locked.”

He gives me a sleepy smile, filling my chest with warmth. “I have the key.”

“Of course you do.” I need to get away from the way he’s looking at me before I do something stupid. I push against hischest with all my strength, but he doesn’t move. “Get off me before I bite you.”

A low rumble vibrates from him directly into my chest. “That’s not the threat you think it is.”

“I hate you.” I sneer, putting every ounce of betrayal into my voice.

His brows pull together, the light going out before he lifts off me.

I despise the way I miss his heat and scramble until my back’s to the headboard and my feet are between us. There’s a swirling, sticky sensation in my stomach as I try to process what the hell is going on with me. It’s like two sides of my soul are crashing into each other: the one screaming at me not to trust him and the other one begging me to give in.

“Let me help you blow off some steam,” Matthias says without coming closer.

“Are you going to let me punch you?”

He smirks. “Something like that.”

Matthias gets up, grabbing a few things from my drawer and tossing them at me. “Get up and put these on.”

“Don’t boss me around.” I refuse to get up out of spite.

“Just put them on, and don’t be stubborn for once in your life. You’re going to enjoy this.” Matthias sighs, pinching his nose, and looks up at the ceiling. Getting under his skin like this could become addicting.

I raise the gym shorts that look strikingly familiar to the ones I owned previously. I’d think he brought my clothes over if it wasn’t for the tags. “Fine. Get out.”

---